16 Things You Should Never Wear To Work

Just because you work in a casual office environment, it doesn't mean you can get away with just any outfit. From wrinkled to provocative, here are 16 cringeworthy pieces of clothing you should definitely cross off your list.

Business casual, classic casual, smart casual - the rules surrounding what to wear to work are constantly changing, and it's hard to keep up.

But there are a few things you can rule out.

Keep in mind this doesn't apply to every industry or workplace. It's a general guide that will hopefully put you on the right track to professional outfits that will still let you express yourself.

"The most important thing is to make sure your clothes are clean, pressed and that you're putting your best foot forward at work,"Betsy Aimee, a digital content producer who writes on workplace fashion and entrepreneurship, explained to Business Insider.

With that in mind, here are 16 types of clothes you probably shouldn't wear to work:

#1 Anything see-through

Wear a camisole or undershirt.

#2 Yoga pants and leggings

Aimee said this is one of the most contentious points between younger and older employees - are leggings or yoga pants ok? Gen Xers and Baby Boomers are likely to say no, while millennials might argue that they're ok.

Generally, you should follow what your bosses are wearing to work. If they're not sporting leggings on a regular basis, you certainly shouldn't either.

"Wear what you'd like, but be mindful that people are forming an opinion of you," Aimee said.

#3 Anything that's too tight, too short, or too baggy

You are not a rapper from the mid-2000s. Don't wear super baggy clothing. And tight clothes are also a major no.

#4 Cold-shoulder tops

Yes, they're trendy, but they're not appropriate for the office. Keep them for your weekend brunches or bar-hopping.

Anything that shows off your back, cleavage, or tummy

Your torso needs to be covered in the workplace. "What are you drawing attention to - your competency or your body?" Aimee said.

#5 Visible undergarments

"Neither gender should show underwear, but they should wear underwear!" Aimee said.

#6 A lot of animal print

You probably do not want to be known as the person who owns cheetah-print pants.

#7 Pajamas

Your employer might be hesitant to keep you on the payroll if it looks like you're about to take a nap.

#8 Crocs

There are some high-fashion Crocs being produced... but no. Just no.

#9 Anything you would wear to the gym

Workout clothes don't belong in even the most lowkey workplaces.

#10 Anything you bought for clubbing or bar-hopping

You can experiment with converting these pieces into daywear by throwing on a blazer, cardigan, scarf, or jacket.

Otherwise, save them for the weekend.

#11 Clothes that are stained

It's time to donate or trash them.

#12 Light-wash or ripped jeans

If you work in a truly casual outfit where your manager is sporting light-wash or ripped jeans, go ahead and sport them too.

But typical business casual offices draw the line at dark-wash denim. Look around your workplace before you wear them tomorrow morning.

Down Votes

Only logged in users may vote for comments!

Get Permalink

Trending Stories Right Now

Escalator walkers and escalator standers are forever locked in struggle—they are like toilet paper over-the-roll installers and under-the-roll installers, or GIF pronouncers, or one-spacers and two-spacers, only brought head to head every day in the malls, airports, offices, train exits, and sundry moving staircases of the world.
And the real-world evidence, it seems, is on the side of the standers. Walkers are a bottleneck, and they’re slowing each other — and the standers — down.

Contracts kinda suck. While the telco industry is built on the back of two-year commitments, locking yourself into one provider for as long as 24 months never feels great. What if there’s a better deal? What if the service is terrible? What if you decide to abandon technology and live a nomadic life off the grid?